Nutcracker



H. D. VIA

NUT CRACKER June 26, 1945.

File d Jan. 21, 1944 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oerlcs 52,379,121 a z 4 easements Hugh D; Portsm'o'fith; Va." I fii'pfiatfdfi rel-may 21, 1544, see: Nd; sit-iii I v 3 Clainfs. (CI; 146 16) This invention relates to a nut cracker, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind mainly constructed from noncritical material, such as wood.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is especially adapted for use with pecans or nuts of the same general characteristics and wherein the device is constructed in a manner so that'the jaws are normally maintained in open or spaced relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind comprising two jaw-carrying members hingedly connected one to the other in a manner whereby the jaws are normally maintained in open or spaced relation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved nut cracker whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a nut cracker constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the device comprises two elongated members I of desired dimensions and which are preferably formed of wood and which, when assembled, have similar end portions provided with the opposed elongated jaws which are formed by cutting out such opposed portions of the members I.

These jaws 2 are directed lengthwise of the members I and are disposed on a predetermined inbow or curvature and are relatively shallow. The faces of these jaws 2 are provided thereacross at points lengthwise thereof with the grooves or channels 3 to increase the gripping action of the jaws.

Each of the members I outwardly of, but in close proximity to, the jaw 2 thereof, has disposed transversely thereof and across that face of the member I which is provided with the jaw 2, a pivot bar 4 which constitutes the intermediate portion of a U-shaped element, the side arms 5 of tfiififilj fisaskl. in the side faces a of the member I. members 5 terminate in inwardly directed extensions 1 which lie across the outer face b of the member I and terminated in the prongs 8 which penetrate the outer face b of the member, whereby the pivot bar 4 is securely mounted.

In the assembly of the device, thebars 4 are freely surrounded by a coil spring 9 whereby the members I are connected for relative swinging movement one toward the other. One extremity of the spring9is continued by an elongated arm It terminating in a prong II which penetrates the side face a of one of the members I while the opposite end portion of the spring 9 is continued by an elongated arm I2 terminating in a prong I4 penetrating the adjacent side face a of the second member I.

It is to be pointed out that the spring 9 not only provides a pivotal connection between the members I but also afiords a medium whereby the end portions of the members I outwardly or in advance of the jaws 3 are constantly urged one toward the other, whereby said jaws 3 are normally maintained in open or spaced relation. The extent of the opening or separating movement of the jaws 3 is determined by the degree of angle of the beveled portions I5 of the opposed faces 0 of the members I.

. From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a nut cracker constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

continued into an arm secured to one of the members and the opposite extremity of the spring being continued into an arm secured to the other one of the members, whereby said spring serves to constantly urge the members in a movement one with respect to the other.

2. A nut cracker comprising two relatively long members having opposed faces provided with opposed jaws adjacent to the ends of the members, means encircling each member forwardly of the jaw providing a pivot bar extending across the jaw face of the member and spaced therefrom, said bars lying in side by side relation, and a coil spring surrounding said pivot bars to connect the members for swinging movement one with respect to the other, one extremity of the coil spring being continued by an arm secured to one of the members and the opposite extremity of the spring being provided with an arm secured to the second member, whereby said spring serves to constantly urge the members to a prescribed relative movement one with respect to the other, the arms of the spring being ecured to the members in advance of the jaws, whereby said members are normally urged in a direction to maintain the jaws in spaced relation.

3. A nut cracker, comprising two relatively long straight members each having one side formed member between the jaw face and the adjacent end of the member, each unit comprising side portions disposed against opposite sides of the member, inturned portions forming continuations of the side portions and fixed in the face of the member remote from the jaw face and a transverse bar connecting the side portions and extending across the side of the member in which the jaw face is formed and having spaced relation with such side of the member, the said bars of the frame-like units being in substantially parallel side by side relation, a coil spring encircling the adjacent bar members and having a relatively long extension at each end, and each of said coil spring extensions being fixed in a side face of a member between the frame-like unit encircling such member and the adjacent end of the member, the spring functioning to normally draw together the ends of the members adjacent to the jaw faces to effect the separation of the handles.

HUGH VIA. 

